Movable control pendant for machine tools



Aug. 5, 1952 J. J. ROCK 0 MOVABLE CONTROL PENDANT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Sept. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 doseph cl )Qock. a M Ww (A -re m Aug. 5, 1952 J. J. ROCK 2,605,983

MOVABLE CONTROL PENDANT FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Sept. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Meg cJ Oseph d. mock 2 W w Aug. 5, 1952 ROCK 2,605,988

MOVABLE CONTROL PENDANT FOR MACHINE TOOLS III mow; cicseph d3 72C)". g 444,... Qf'IN WV-w Patented Aug. 5, 1952 STATES .7 2,605,988 CQNTROL fPEfip-MTT FER MACHINE TOOLS Josenhi. Rock, Fond ,au Lac, a sienar to 1 n Lewis Machine,,-TTO I. iQi iiipeify, I Form at Lee, Wis., a contestant: whet sin n ifineafian seinemter 16,'-1-947:, SerialNo. met I The present 'inveiiti'enielates to ifnfirove'in'ents in. movable coritrol pendants for inachi'ne tools.

one of the objects to provide "a control pendant with an improved mount permitting horizontal swivel adjustment and vertical adjustment wi'th 'e'ase 'dfspat'c'h.

Another object is to "provide improved means f or couritehbamh'cihg the pendant.

A more specific object is to provide, in 'combination with a counterbalancing means exerting an iipward force, of a friction brake operable to resist downward inoveinent of the pendant, and "ineffective to resist u ward movement thereof. 7

Further objects "and advantages 'will "become apparent "as the 'd'esciiptien proceeds.

In the accbm anyihg drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a front 'view ofa-horizontal boring. drilling and "milling machine equipped with a control pendant embodying the 'features of the present invention.

Fig. 215 at-fragmentary pian'view oi the'pend'ant m unt. 7 Fig. 3 is a vertical sectio'ha-l'view of the mount taken aldng 1ine 3--'3 of Fig-2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical seetional view -talen-'along met-:4 "of Fig.3. H

Referring more particularly t?) the drawings,

the -ptitndanl' cofistitutingthe exemplary embodiment of the invention, "may be adapted "for use on various types of machine tools requiring a 'o'ntrol station. For purposes e'f illustration-it is shown as applied to one type orhtnzontnbbring, drilling and milli'n'g machi'n'e's. As shown, the 'I'nabhine comprises a Horizontal bed I 0, avertical column I I on-one end ofth'e bed'aspl'ndle head- -"stock it mounted on the column for vertical power translation, a-sa'ddle 13 slida'ble longitudinally on the bed, and a worktable I 4 'slidable transversely on the saddle. The headstock l2 supports a main horizontal spindle l5 for power rotation and axial translation. A tailstock column it, supporting a slide I! in alignment 'hence are not disclosed in detail. -It-is sufilcient to state that various machine functions are sub- 2 shot to electrical :c ntrd through the medium "of hand-operable push-button or other woes 'of switches or regulating elements assembled in a control panel at some convenient station. 7

The present invention relates to a 'irlevable pendant 20 which may lie-equipped'withthe electrical control elements required 'fo'r ahybai'ti'eular machine, and which thus :cfofis'titutes such a control .panel, I he pendant '20 mlyji'efin'e'the -only control station, pr-be one jof dual "stations. For the convenience of the 'I'hac'hin'e bheratorfthe pendant 20 comprises a housing 2'! is of a size andshapehdaptedtobeggrasp'e'd ih'theji'ahd, and which is acaptectote ai1isted "into iifier'ent locations relative to the machine ls'trueture. The housing 2| encloses the 'nccssalrj electncal "devices ina compact arrangement, and'suenerts the manual control elements, such fo'r example as the .push buttons indicated at "22, for external "actuation. I I 7 To permit easy andexpeaiuciis'1ecaudn 'bf the control pendant 20 in different Ipds'itio'hs of use. it is' supported, in the pre's'fit"instahce'from the top of thecolumn "I 1-, for swivel adjustment througha predeterminedarcuaterangein a horizontalplane and for up orjdownfvertical adjustment tbth'e desired height. More particu- -larly, the pendent 2n issu'spendee from'the icwer end of a flexible electric cable 23 thrbu'gh'which the electric lead wires (not snowm are extended. The cable 23 extends upwardly iritoahdthrough a forwardly projecting hollow arm '24 preferably in the form of 'a rigid bonduitfor'tube having a short. downwardly bent elbow '25 at its outer end. The rear or inner end "of the "tubular arm 24 projects into and is supp'orted within a suitable housingjfi for swivel adjustment 9, vertical plane. Toperniit such swivel adjustment, the arm 2]; actually extends through a vertical slot 21 in the f-ront wall of the housing -26. The latter in turnis mounted tor-horizontal swivel adjustment about a vertical axis on the top of the column I. From the inner end of the arm 24, the electriccable -23 e xtendsin a curve downwardly in the housing 2 B, and therefrom through a slot 28 'arcuate about the vertical swivel axis in the top wall of the columhfor connection to the electrical devices not:shown controlled from the pendant =25. Suhicient slack is provided in the cable 23 to permit swivel movement of the housing 26.

column II. Thus, the pin 33 defines the vertical 7 swivel axis of the housing 26.

To provide a swivel support for the arm 24, the

inner end extends through and is rigidly fixed in a split clamp on a block 40 rotatably mounted I on a fixed transverse shaft 4l withinth housing 26. The pendant 20, cable 23 and arm 24 have, of course, a predetermined weight tending to swing the arm downwardly. 'To counterbalance this weight, resilient means is provided inthe housing 26 tending at all times to swivel the arm in an upward direction about the shaft 4|. In the preferred construction, coiled tension springs 42 are connected at their forward ends to a lug 43 on the forward edge of the block 40, and are adjustably anchored at their rear ends to the rear wall of the housing 26. Specifically, the rear end of each spring 42 is connected to a lug 44 on an adjusting screw 45 adjustably threaded through the housing wall.

One of the problems presented is to obtain a normal state of equilibrium in any position of vertical adjustment of the pendant despite the weight of the forwardly offset parts, and at the same time to facilitate ready adjustment in either direction. This is accomplished by providing a one way friction brake 46 which is automatically operable to supplement the resisting force of the springs" against downward adjustment of the arm 24, but is ineffective to resist upward adjustment of the arm by the springs. The springs 42 are so tensioned that when the arm 24 is relieved of the weight of the pendant 20, they will effect upward adjustment.

The friction brake 46 comprises a friction ring 41 adapted to be rotated in on direction by a one-way coupling 49 associated with the support block 40. More specifically, the ring 41 isformed with a series of wedge notches 5|] in its outer peripheral facev and is inserted with a snug rotary fit into a bore 48 opening through the block 40. Suitable rollers 52 are confined within the notches 56 to cooperate with the surfaces of the notches and the inner surface of the bore 46 to form the one-way coupling which serves upon rotation of the block 40 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to coupl th ring 41 for rotation therewith, and permit free independent rotation of the block in the opposite or clockwise direction.

The ring 41 is rotatably confined on the shaft 4| to complete the swivel connection for supporting the arm 24. The ring also constitutes the movable friction element of the brake 46, and to this end is frictionally disposed between two axiallyspaced annular friction disks 52 encircling the shaft 4| and anchored to the opposed inner surfaces of the side walls 29 of the housing 26. -It will thus be evident that the opposite side faces of the ring 41 define annular brake surfaces in frictional engagement with the contacting surfaces of the disks 52 to resist rotation of the ring 41. The housing 26 cooperates in this action by forming an anchor against which the one-way brake may react in-resisting downward movement of 'the arm 24.

To permit adjustment of the frictional drag in one direction imposed by the brake 45, the shaft 4| is provided in the form of a bolt having a head 53 on one end and a nut 54 on the other end, and hence constitutes a clamping element adapted to fiex the side walls 29 of the housing 26 so as to vary the bearing pressure between the brake surfaces. More particularly, the shaft or bolt 4| is extended through bores 55 in inwardly projecting bosses 56 formed on the side walls 29 and against which the disks 52 are seated. The bosses are formed in the outer surfaces with concentric circular recesses or counterbores 51. The bolt head 53 is seated in one of the recesses 51, and the nut 54 is seated in the opposed recess and'adapted to be tightened on the bolt by means'of a' spanner wrench to flex the walls 29 inwardly for coarse friction adjustment. A dog point set screw 56 is threaded through the head 53 for end engagement against the inner surface of the associated recess 51 to maintain the bolt 4| against rotation. To effect fine adjustment of the brake friction, flat point set screws 59 are threaded through circumferentially spaced holes in the nut 54 for end bearing engagement with the inner surface of the related recess 51. A dog point set screw 58 is also threaded through a hole in the nut intermediate the holes occupied by the fiat point set screws 59, said screw 53 serving to clamp nut 54 in position.

In operation, downward adjustment of the pendant 2|] may be effected simply by exerting a downward pull thereon. In this instance, the one-way coupling 49 is automatically engaged to interpose the drag or resistance of the friction element 41 which supplements the resistance of the counterbalancing springs 42 against such downward movement. The force required in lowering the pendant 20 against the resistance of the brake 46 is of no substantial moment since the flexible cable 23 will be taut. Moreover, the tension of the springs 42 and the friction of the brake 46 are so adjusted as to substantially counterbalance the weight of the pendant 20, cable 23 and arm 24. Consequently, only a comparatively light pull is required, and after adjustment has been effected, the pendant will remain in balanced position. Upward vertical adjustment may be effected simply by lifting the pendant 20 manually to the desired height. This willremove the weight of the pendant 20 from the cable 23, and, since the brake 46 is ineffective in this direction of movement, the counterbalancing springs 42 have only the weight of the arm 24 to overcome, and will effect a corresponding upward adjustment of the arm until the slack in the cable is taken up and the balanced relationshipis reestablished.

triccable extending from the inner to the outer end of the arm and then downwardly therefrom, a control pendant suspended from the arm on the lower'end of said cable, the pendant being provided with electrical control elements for the machine tool, a clutch ring rotatably positioned in said bore in the swivel block, a pivot supporting the ring for rotation, a support for mounting the pivot in a horizontal position on the machine tool, a counterbalancing element connected 5 to the arm through the swivel block and of sufficient strength to counterbalance the weight of said arm but not that of the pendant, a pair of brake members on said support engaging the opposite ends of the clutch ring with suificient force to restrain the arm frictionally against downward movement under the weight of the pendant, a plurality of wedge recesses disposed between the swivel block and the clutch ring and formed out of the interengaging surfaces thereof, and respective wedge dogs in the recesses for locking the swivel block to the clutch ring upon downward movement of the arm under the weight of the pendant and for releasing the swivel block for free upward movement under the impetus of the counterbalancing element when the arm is relieved of the weight of the pendant.

2. A pendant control device for a machine tool, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted bodily on the machine tool for swivel adjustment about a vertical axis, said housing comprising spaced parallel flexible side walls and an end wall having a vertical slot therethrough, a horizontal pivot bolt extending through and supported in said side walls, a clutch ring rotatably confined on the bolt between the side walls, a swivel block having a bore rotatably receiving the clutch ring, a generally horizontal arm rigidly connected to the block for swivel movement therewith and projecting from said housing through said slot, a flexible electric cable extending from within said housing and along said arm and then downwardly therefrom, a control pendant suspen ed fr the arm on he l wer d f aid cable, a counterbalancing spring in said housing having one end connected thereto and the other end connected to said arm through the swivel block, said spring being of sufficient strength to counterbalance the Weight of said arm but not that of said pendant, a nut on said bolt for compressing said side walls inwardly to exert sufficient frictional restraint on said clutch ring to counterbalance the weight of said pendant, a plurality of wedging notches of tapered depth formed in the periphery of said clutch ring, and respective rollers in said notches for locking said swivel block to the clutch ring upon downward movement of the arm under the weight of the pendant and for releasing said swivel block for free upward movement under the impetus of the spring when the arm is relieved of the weight of the pendant.

JOSEPH J. ROCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,231 Bosworth Oct. 4, 1927 1,645,554 Taylor Oct. 18, 1927 1,693,443 Holt Nov. 27, 1928 2,217,407 Hansen Oct. 8, 1940 2,306,992 Koch Dec. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 318,379 Germany Dec. 14, 1918 3784161, e m y u 3, 23 

